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Lee Jae Myung Calls for Fair Labor Flexibility, Stronger Worker Safety Nets

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung emphasized that the adoption of labor market flexibility must consider the likelihood of workers' acceptance and cannot be forced. He called for strengthening the social safety net to support workers amid job market changes, stating companies benefiting from increased flexibility should shoulder more of the burden. The President stressed the importance of dialogue to rebuild trust between labor and management and find a balanced social compromise. He made these remarks during a debate session with the tripartite Economic, Social, and Labour Council.

Key Points: S. Korea's Lee Stresses Worker Acceptance in Labor Market Reform

  • Worker acceptance key to labor flexibility
  • Social safety net must be strengthened
  • Companies benefiting should bear costs
  • Dialogue essential to rebuild labor-management trust
  • Council's role in social compromise emphasized
2 min read

South Korea: Lee puts importance on likelihood of workers' acceptance in adopting labour market flexibility

President Lee Jae Myung emphasizes dialogue and a stronger social safety net for fair labor flexibility, rejecting unilateral worker sacrifice.

"It is not right to proceed in a way that demands unilateral sacrifice from workers. - Lee Jae Myung"

Seoul, March 19

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday importance should be attached to the likelihood of workers' acceptance in adopting labor market flexibility, expressing objection to unilateral sacrifices by laborers when companies adjust workplace policies.

Lee made the remarks during a debate session with the Economic, Social, and Labour Council, a tripartite presidential advisory body, alongside labor groups and government officials.

"We need to create conditions in which workers can accept the kind of employment flexibility that companies seek. It cannot be forced, as that would be unfair," Lee said during the session at Cheong Wa Dae.

He emphasised the importance of reinforcing the social safety net to support workers amid a changing job market, calling on companies that benefit from increased labour flexibility to shoulder a greater share of the burden.

"It is not right to proceed in a way that demands unilateral sacrifice from workers. We need to create a rational environment that everyone can accept," he said. "Building a sufficient social safety net is essential so that workers do not feel insecure."

Lee said it would be desirable to create a virtuous cycle of job growth by securing labor flexibility while strengthening the social safety net, stressing the importance of dialogue to rebuild trust between labor and management and reach a compromise.

"It would be desirable for the labor side to make concessions on labor flexibility while strengthening the social safety net to compensate for it, with the costs borne by companies that benefit from increased labor flexibility," he said.

"Rather than having one side bear unilateral losses, we must find a point of balance through social compromise."

Lee called on the council to play a greater role in promoting social dialogue to help narrow differences between management seeking to reduce labor costs and workers concerned about job security, Yonhap news agency reported.

"We need to pour a lot of energy into restoring trust (between labor and management)," Lee said. "The first step should be for them to sit down and have serious conversations."

Ahead of the debate session, the council adopted a joint declaration on addressing social polarisation and achieving sustainable growth.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Rohit P
"Unilateral sacrifice" – that phrase hits home. So many Indian IT and gig workers face this exact pressure. The company's profits soar, but job security vanishes. A stronger safety net is non-negotiable if you want true flexibility. Hope our policymakers are taking notes! 👍
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Aman W
Sounds good in theory, but will companies actually pay? In our experience, "dialogue" often means management tells workers what's happening. The power imbalance is huge. The success of this depends entirely on strong enforcement mechanisms, which many countries lack.
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Sarah B
Interesting to see a leader explicitly linking labor flexibility to corporate responsibility. The "virtuous cycle" he mentions is crucial for sustainable growth. For India's massive workforce, creating this balance could unlock huge potential, but it requires trust, which is in short supply.
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Karthik V
The tripartite council model (govt, labor, management) is something we should strengthen in India. Too often, decisions are made in closed rooms without real worker representation. Restoring trust starts with giving labor a genuine seat at the table. Good move by South Korea.
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Nisha Z
Workers' acceptance cannot be forced – absolutely correct! But in our fast-changing economy, many workers feel they have no choice but to accept unfavorable terms. Building that safety net he talks about (healthcare, skilling, unemployment support) is the real challenge. Execution is everything.

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